Fellows of Senate

John Gordon McKenzie

John Gordon McKenzie was a Fellow of Senate from 1940 to his death in 1952.

Profile

BA BEc SydneyFellow of Senate 1940 - 1952

His student years at the University of Sydney

McKenzie graduated BA in 1914 and BEc in 1916 from the University of Sydney.

His career

In 1921 McKenzie was appointed master of Modern Languages at Fort Street Boys' High School. In turn he became headmaster of Cootamundra Intermediate High Schcol, district inspector of schools at Inverell, staff inspector in charge of junior technical schools, and chief inspector of secondary schools. In 1940 he succeeded Mr G Ross Thomas as Director-General of Education of NSW.

McKenzie was chairman of the Board of Secondary School Studies, the Bursary Endowment Board, the Advisory Board of Adult Education, the Library Board of NSW and the Soldiers' Children's Education Board. He was a member of the Senate of the University of Sydney, and the Council of the University of Technology.

McKenzie suffered a heart seizure and died in his office, aged 64, on 29 November 1952. He was to have retired on 31 December.

The State Minister for Education, Mr Heffron, said that schools throughout NSW would fly flags at half mast on 2 December. The Premier, Mr Cahill, paid high tribute to Mr. McKenzie's accomplishments during his period of nearly 50 years' service with the education department. "He was a great public servant and the Education Department has progressed at a rapid rate under his leadership," Mr Cahill said.

Dr H S Wyndham, who succeeded Mr McKenzie, said that Mr McKenzie was "a strong" man" throughout his career. He added: "Mr McKenzie brought to his task a sturdiness of mind, a breadth of vision, and a diversity of interests which made him an outstanding administrator. He had human qualities which evoked loyalty from all sorts of people and all levels of the service."

His membership of Senate

John Gordon McKenzie was a Fellow of Senate appointed by the Governor from 1940 to his death in 1952.

Information from The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 December 1952, National Library of Australia.